Hartlepool boss: Let’s survive this season and win promotion next

RONNIE Moore sees no reason why Hartlepool United cannot survive relegation this season and push for promotion next year.

The 61-year-old is excited by the challenge of retaining Pools’ league status, which is very much under threat with the side six points adrift of safety in Sky Bet League Two.

But Moore - who believes the Pools gig is the biggest job in English football right now - is adamant that if safety can be achieved then a promotion push could be on the cards under the new owners TMH 2014.

Moore said: “The best thing for all of us is survival this year.

“I honestly believe we’ll survive and the new people, they’re going to take the club forward very quickly.

“Survival this year and I think we’ll be pushing for promotion next season.

“They’re so committed to getting things right and it’s basically down to me to get things right on the park.

“The new owners want to move the club forward in every way and I just hope this can be a long role for me.

“Staying above that dotted line, if we can do that then I think there is going to be a lot of good things happening next season.”

Moore has been looking for a return after eight months out of work after being sacked by Tranmere earlier this year for breaching betting rules.

The former striker was fined £2,000 and given a one-month suspension, suspended for two years, after he admitted an FA charge relating to betting on competitions and matches in which his club was involved.

Moore broke the rules after placing bets for family members from his account, which on one occasion included a £1 stake on Tranmere to win in a double with Manchester United, which returned less than £4.

But he is back in management now and he admits while he would love to play an attacking style of football he knows with the player’s confidence levels at rock bottom, it will be a case of battling first to stay in the league.

He added: “Of course it would be great to play like Real Madrid but the time isn’t right for that.